AIBU to ask how do you clean a kitchen?!

[noctu]

Can't believe I'm asking this, I'm really embarrassed, but here goes.

How do you clean your kitchen?! What products do you use, do you use one of those scrubby sponge things, or the mop up sponge things, or something else? Do you fill the sink with hot water and disinfectant and dip your sponge in there, or do you just spray, wipe, and rinse your chosen implement under the sink?

How on earth are you even meant to use Zoflora? I've tried mixing it with warm water and squirting it on the tops but it just resulted in wet tops which took ages to mop/sponge off and dry, and didn't really feel like a proper clean.

I've heard of so many different ways of cleaning kitchens, I don't think I'm doing it right ... we always seem to have crumbs in the corners, water marks on the hob.

Please don't judge me for asking. I didn't really have a role model growing up to see this for myself.

Someone cleans their baseboards every week!!!
I do too, but I have to as they're cream and show up every speck. It's no trouble you just include them when you clean the cupboard doors.

Wow, I’ve honestly never cleaned my baseboards. Just looked at them out of interest and they’re fine, definitely don’t look like they need cleaning!

I normally just use Dettol surface cleaner or similar on the worktops/table, wiped with a damp cloth or kitchen roll. Dettol wipes if I’m being really lazy. I use the Pink Stuff on our ceramic hob. I do give the kitchen a wipe over after making tea every day, so I do this most days.

Every other week or so I’ll wipe down the area around the hob/hood with a degreaser, and I Hoover/mop once a week (I have a spray mop that I use with Zoflora).

I use a tiny bit of cif on a damp-ish cloth before bed and that’s about the extent of it.

A clean house is a sign of a wasted life, and I actually HATE the ‘fashion’ for women to be obsessive cleaners ala Mrs Hinch these days. Zoflora is foul stuff and completely harmful to the environment. I also really hate anything ‘clean smelling’ when clean smelling = chemicals. Just open the window.

@Shopliftersoftheworldunite

I use a tiny bit of cif on a damp-ish cloth before bed and that’s about the extent of it.

A clean house is a sign of a wasted life, and I actually HATE the ‘fashion’ for women to be obsessive cleaners ala Mrs Hinch these days. Zoflora is foul stuff and completely harmful to the environment. I also really hate anything ‘clean smelling’ when clean smelling = chemicals. Just open the window.

I was so surprised at how ok people were with mixing chemicals and using stuff the non recommend way just because it was done by a pretty woman with a cute dog and good grey filter on a phone... Even zoflora came out and said they don't recommend certsin uses she promited🤷🏻

I am surprised people didn't get seriously hurt.

I use microfibre cloths that can be run through the washing machine regularly. For something sticky that needs a scrub I've got a le creuset pan scrubber which I put through the dishwasher to get clean.

I wet the cloth in hot clean water then use any kitchen spray - viakal, dettol or flash are my favourites, and wipe down all surfaces. If there are a lot of bits and crumbs in corners I will sometimes use the handheld dyson to pick up bits first, or a good old dust pan and brush. I spray all the counters/surfaces and wipe. I sometimes use window spray afterwards to get a streak free finish everywhere, especially on shiny taps.

Hot water and bleach and washing up liquid. Normal washing up cloth (white ones). Leave the cloth in a while to disinfect itself. Then clean all worktops, cupboard fronts, sink and cooker top. Wipe all equipment as dust builds up in a kitchen. Hoover floor and mop it.

I wipe down the surfaces and hob multi times a day sort of baffled by the notion of cleaning multiple times a day

@notagainmummy

Hot water and bleach and washing up liquid. Normal washing up cloth (white ones). Leave the cloth in a while to disinfect itself. Then clean all worktops, cupboard fronts, sink and cooker top. Wipe all equipment as dust builds up in a kitchen. Hoover floor and mop it.

I hope you aren't mixing bleach and washing up liquid

There are loads of videos on Tiktok of people cleaning toilets with about five different products. Seems crazy.

I use Cif cream cleaner on the counter tops with a scrubby sponge, and stainless steel spray for the sink, draining board and the steel bits of my oven. Scrubby sponge if needed, or just a dishcloth. The Flash yellow liquid stuff goes into the mop bucket for the floor once a week, and I sweep at the end of each day.

I clean the cupboards and tiles once in a blue moon- they don't tend to get dirty.

Bleach and washing up liquid is safe.

Clean sink when you wash up. Wipe up spills as they happen - including floor. Sweep regularly. Clean window sills and woodwork when you do windows. Skirting boards when you do floor. Hot soapy water and a clean cloth is usually good enough. Viakal or similar for sinks and floor cleaner such as flash for floor mopping. If I needed to disinfect I'd do that after cleaning- so wipe down the surfaces with anti bac after cleaning iyswim.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Bleach and washing up liquid is safe.

Some aren't. Or at least they used to be a nono combo.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Bleach and washing up liquid is safe.

Hm

Technically, most washing-up liquids are pH-neutral so I guess theoretically you probably could.

I'm not sure I'd take the risk though. Generally the safest approach is not to mix bleach with anything except clean water.

Bleach will react to anything with an acidic pH value, often creating unpleasant and/or toxic fumes.

This includes urine, incidentally. Which is why cleaning a toilet with bleach isn't necessarily a great idea.

I don't really do the BIG CLEAN thing. I wipe the surfaces, sink and draining board, hob, etc throughout the day usually when I'm washing up. Just use a cloth and warm soapy water, maybe a bit of eco surface spray. Things like fridge, microwave, oven, floor, cupboard doors, light shades etc. I just clean when they look like they need it (not very often).

@Ceejly

I have a system! Too to bottom always!

Dust the ceiling corners/light fixtures.
Clean windows (mix of white vinegar/water in spray bottle and microfiber window cloth). Use this for light switches too.
Move everything off of each counter top. Spray with mix of Fairy and warm water and wipe/scrub (I use old towels cut up). Wipe kettle etc at this point.
Abrasive on hob - Pink Stuff or similar. Wipe off with Fairy mix.
Clean oven with either abrasive cleaner as above or a proper leave-on oven cleaner (1x a month maybe). Wipe clean with Fairy mix.
Clean cupboard fronts with vinegar mix and window cloth (mine are gloss).
Take everything out of fridge, throw out anything that's dead, wash with warm water and Fairy. Replace.
Clean baseboards with Fairy mix and towel.
Take out bin then wash and wipe with Fairy mix.
Wipe down inside of washing machine with Fairy mix then throw cloths in.
Clean sink with abrasive, wipe with Fairy mix.
Put washing machine on.
Hoover floor.
Mop with Fairy mix.

Hope this helps!

@ceejily How often do you do that? Is that weekly?

Ignore me, I've now seen the next post 🙈

These threads always end up totally overwhelming!

You don't really need all of the dramatic routines and products. Once the dishes are done, put some hot water and fairy in the sink, soak a clean cloth in it, wring it out and wipe down your surfaces.

@Alsohuman that makes me feel better...there's such a variety of opinion here. Also I love my pink grapefruit Method and won't give it up!!

@GreenSlide

You don't really need all of the dramatic routines and products. Once the dishes are done, put some hot water and fairy in the sink, soak a clean cloth in it, wring it out and wipe down your surfaces.

Absolutely agreed on the ott routines.

I could cry reading Ceejly's routine! I thought I was decently clean, but I am a complete slob ! I think I do those baseboard things... once every six months? I am crippled for a week if I have to crawl round the floor scrubbing them.

How do people deal with crumbs? Even wiping all the time, if you duck down and look at eye level the buggers are still lurking everywhere. I suppose you have to be like dh's friend who is Mr Tidy who bans loaves of bread and only permits sliced bread to avoid the crumb problem. Ditto coffee grounds. Impossible to keep on top of cafetiere spills and emptyings.

Antibac wipes on everything. New wipe for a new “section” or item. Repeat everyday unless requires twice in a day.

Some participants on this thread could apply to go on the TV show Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners!

I know we're all supposed to live and let live and respect each other's choices but I can't help but disapprove of people using countless cleaning wipes, pointlessly, every single day.

"How do people deal with crumbs? Even wiping all the time, if you duck down and look at eye level the buggers are still lurking everywhere. I suppose you have to be like dh's friend who is Mr Tidy who bans loaves of bread and only permits sliced bread to avoid the crumb problem. Ditto coffee grounds. Impossible to keep on top of cafetiere spills and emptyings."

Jesus, what a miserable fucking existence!

My routine is:

Daily- kitchen spray and sponge. Wipe all work surfaces and any spills. Clean hob with stainless steel spray. Sweep daily and mop maybe every second day.

weekly- fridge cull and wipe; clean microwave and toaster (crumbs and also stainless steel spray). I clean out one draw/cupboard once a week, going around in a clockwise fashion so they all get done every 2 months or so.